JetBlog! Interactive

How do you celebrate National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day?

With the U.S. House of Representatives recent support for the goals and ideals of National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, we are wondering how our many industry colleagues rememeber Charles. E. Taylor. Some locations, like the Baker School of Aeronautics, hold an annual picnic in Charlie's honor. Several airlines make announcements on every flight on May 24. Some even bring one of their mechanics into the cabin and introduce them to the passengers. That always results in rousing cheers and applause. Its nice to be recognized for all the hard work and personal integrity.

Do you and your colleagues, or does your company, celebrate the women and men that maintain the airworthiness of your aircraft every May 24? Please share your activities, thoughts and ideas with us here on JetBlog! so that others may be inspired by your efforts, as well.

Folded Wings: Columbus, Ohio, PAMA Chapter loses Colleague, Friend

Samuel W. Dodge
Samuel W. Dodge, age 53, died at his residence on May 22, 2008. He was born, raised and schooled in Graniteville, VT. Sam served 3 years in the U.S.A.F. where he was stationed in Japan. Sam worked at Lane Aviation for several years. He had considered his co-workers his extended family. Sam cared for his family, friends, and community. Preceded in death by his beloved mother Lillian Edson Dodge. Survived by father, William H. Dodge of Ninnekah, OK; daughter, Jessica (Mike) Dodge of Circleville, OH; step grand daughter, Mikala Binkley; several aunts and uncles. He will be missed by all. To send condolences to the family or to sign the Guest Book, visit Schoedinger Funeral Home

Airship Ventures Announces First Flight Of New Zeppelin Will Enter Commercial Service In June

Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and Airship Ventures announced this week the successful first flight of the fourth, and latest, Zeppelin NT airship over Friedrichshafen, Germany.

With construction of the fourth Zeppelin NT airship recently completed, the ship was handed over to the flight test department to begin the testing phase. The hangar doors opened and the airship left the 360-foot long hangar for the first time since the start of airframe assembly in March 2007.

"Being the fourth ship in our series production, we were able to incorporate a number of design improvements -- reducing weight while increasing lift and achieving a near doubling of airframe lifetime -- that make this our finest ship to date!" said Robert Gritzbach, Zeppelin VP of engineering.

Fritz Gunther, Zeppelin Flight Operations Manager and the first pilot to fly the new airship, said "This is the 3rd Zeppelin for which I have been part of the maiden flight, and feeling of pride in knowing all our hard work has resulted in success never diminishes. As a pilot, I look forward to confirming the new performance characteristics."

In the meantime, two pilots of Airship Ventures have arrived in Germany and are training with their new ship.

Earlier this month, Airship Ventures completed an $8 million Series A Preferred Stock financing, which has allowed the company to finalize preparations for commencement of operations in the US this fall.

FMI: Zeppelinflug, Air Ship Ventures

For the WHOLE story, go to: Aero-News Network

Maintenance Professionals celebrate Charles E. Taylor

The "Father of Aviation Maintenance" was Born 140 Years Ago
Today is the 140th aniversary of the birth of Charles E. Taylor in 1868. Mr. Taylor, often affectionately referred to as "Charlie," was the maintenance professional, or mechanician as they were called, who built by hand the engine that powered Orville Wright on history's First Flight on December 17, 1903.

The Wrights did not turn to Charlie Taylor as their first resource to develop a lightweight engine that could deliver the specified 11 horsepower to make that first voyage aloft. No, the Wrights turned to engine manufacturing professionals - the automobile manufacturers. But with emphasis on speed and mass production, the automobile companies wanted little to do with the one-off enging the Wrights sought. Besides, cars did not care about weight.

The Wrights turned to their chief bicycle and glider mechanic Charles Taylor. As he would later reminisce on very aged film, Charlie said he "turned out the crankshaft on a lathe" after drilling holes and cutting out chunks of the crank shaft on hi workbench. He completed the project in six weeks and came in under the necessary weight and with 12 horsepower!

There is much written about Charles Taylor and I encourage you to learn about this great man and the tone of professionalism, precision, and patience he set for the women and men that carry on in his name each day. The one man that has written the most about Charlie is Howard duFour. His book, Charles E. Taylor: The Wright Brothers Mechanician, is the most thorough reference on the life and accomplishments of Charles Taylor.

Last month, the United States House of Representatives voted in support of the Ideals and Goals of celebrating May 24 each year by passing H. Res. 444. to remember Charles E. Taylor and recognize the professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the airworthiness and safety of the flying public.

As you go about your day today, think of how fortunate we all are to have such confidence in the safety of flight. That confidence is brought to you, humbly and in large part, by the women and men who comprise our aviation maintenace brain trust. Don't forget to than your mechanic - especially today!

Stay strong!

Brian Finnegan, A&P, AME

U.S. probe accuses aircraft parts supplier of fraud

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Army investigation accuses a major supplier of providing bogus materials to "every aircraft manufacturer in the world" for nearly a decade, an independent government watchdog said on Thursday, citing an Army memo obtained by the group.

The September 2006 memo alleged that in addition to selling sub-standard materials, Airtech International Inc paid bribes and kickbacks and threatened the safety of both civilian and military aviation, according to the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).

A four-year investigation found that from January 1997 through December 2005, Airtech knowingly supplied nonconforming products to Defense Department prime contractors, POGO said, quoting the memo written by investigators.

NTSB Issues Recommendations For B757-200 Wing Panels

Says Panels Should Be Inspected For Missing, Cracked Clips

Following a March incident involving a Boeing 757-200 flying for US Airways, on Thursday the National Transportation Safety Board issued to address loose, cracked, and incorrectly-fastened wing panels on the type.

As ANN reported, on March 22 a Boeing 757-225 operated by US Airways as flight 1250 experienced an in-flight separation of the left upper wing fixed trailing edge panel during cruise flight at FL270 enroute from Orlando, FL, to Philadelphia, PA. The panel struck several windows toward the middle of the aircraft, cracking the outer pane of one window. The inner failsafe pane was undamaged, and the pressurization of the aircraft was not compromised.

No emergency was declared, and the airplane landed at Philadelphia International Airport about 30 minutes after the separation occurred. None of the 174 passengers or six crewmembers was injured.

To date, the panel has not been recovered. The B757 upper wing fixed trailing edge panel is a rectangular panel approximately four feet by five feet, with approximately half of the forward side of the panel attached to the panel support beam, which is in turn attached to the wing rear spar vertical stiffeners using three support clips and spacers.

PAMA Chapter Leader Seeks Support for Changes to FARs

While Brian Finnegan and I were working on changing the A&P Inspection Authorization from one year to two years (back in 2005), we came up with many other ideas on items we thought should also be addressed. These Items were listed in the White Paper submitted by Bill O'Brien that was passed around throughout PAMA and the aviation maintenance community.

I still feel strongly that these items should be fixed.

As I have been told in the past, and no one know better than me, “All it takes is a letter to get something done in Washington.” So I have sent another letter to the FAA outlining the changes to the Federal Aviation Regulations many of us would like to see implemented. Please read the petition letter and let me know, by commenting here, what you think about the changes I have suggested.

Michael Harkins A&P IA
Director of Maintenance
President "First State" Chapter - PAMA

Download part_43_65_white_paper_072105.doc

Download harkins_letter_to_change_fars_052008.doc

Aerospace Industry Urges Congressional Support for Science, Math Education Initiatives

Arlington, Va. - AIA co-signed several letters sent this week urging congressional leaders to strengthen math and science education by fully funding federal scientific research and education initiatives like the Education Department's Math and Science Partnerships program.

Sent by the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition to President Bush as well as to House and Senate leaders, the letters ask for continued financial support for these educational initiatives. The coalition is a group of diverse organizations representing all sectors of the technological workforce.

"Federal funding for math and science programs is a vital part of our nation's commitment to education," AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said. "With a growing percentage of aerospace workers eligible to retire, AIA is committed to working with Congress and our partners to fill the workforce pipeline with talent for all critical U.S. industries."

Fabrication of Multiple Parts

In March, the FAA issued a legal opinion letter to Delta Air Lines' (Delta). The opinion concerns Delta's fabrication of parts that are used in the course of repairs to aircraft in its fleet. Such parts are fabricated exclusively for Delta's use.

As many know, 14 CFR Section 21.303 , generally prohibits the production of a modification or replacement part for sale for installation on a type-certificated product unless it is produced pursuant to a Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA). There are a number of major exceptions to this rule – parts that are permitted to be fabricated - such as owner-operator produced parts.

Delta asked the FAA whether it could legally fabricate multiple parts in excess of its needs, and then store the extras until they are needed.

The answer to the question could have been found in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) No. 43-18, “Fabrication of Aircraft Parts by Maintenance Personnel,” which reflects the controlling guidance in this area. According to the Advisory Circular, “a quantity of identical parts bearing the same part number may be fabricated at the same time, providing they will be consumed in later repairs by the certificate holder that fabricated those parts. Controls should be in place to prevent separate sales of these specific parts (i.e., sales to other persons independent of the repair). If a certificate holder desires to sell its fabricated part(s) separately, it must obtain a PMA. The fabrication of multiple parts is not to be used as a means to circumvent the requirements of 14 CFR part 21, § 21.303(a).”

Under the fact pattern proposed, so long as the air carrier fabricates the multiple parts for consumption in repairs to its own fleet, and properly controls the parts so they are not sold for installation on another person's type-certificated product, the air carrier will not be in violation of the PMA rules.

Outside team to review American, FAA grounding reports

Reports submitted by American Airlines and the FAA outlining the events leading up to last month’s grounding of hundreds of the carrier’s Boeing MD-80s are being forwarded for analysis to the national safety inspection review team established by US transportation secretary Mary Peters.

Any relevant findings drawn from the reports will be included in the team’s comprehensive recommendations that are due later this year, says Peters in a letter to American chief executive Gerard Arpey and FAA acting administrator Robert Sturgell.

Established to boost public and industry confidence in US airline safety following mass cancellations associated with the MD-80 grounding, the DOT’s “outside” team of aviation and safety experts includes former Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) CEO Randy Babbit, who currently serves a CEO of Eclat Consulting and former National Transportation Safety Board member and chairman Carl Vogt. Rounding out the team are former DuPont director of aviation William McCabe, Harvard Kennedy School of Government professor Malcom Sparrow and former General Aviation Manufacturers Association president Edward Stimpson.

“I strongly believe that we owe it to the public to thoroughly examine incidents like the one that led to the grounding of a significant portion of American’s MD-80 fleet last month,” writes Peters.